Arson is a major concern for the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority accounting for an average of 51.5% of all fires in the year 2006 - 2007. Child fire play accounts on average for 75% of all fire calls received by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
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Nationally 75% of car fires were started deliberately, in the Telford and Wrekin area it equates to the national average. (SFRS 2007)
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Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Vehicle Crime Course is designed to support the Youth Offending Service tasked with working with young offenders involved with car related crimes.
We also accept referrals from our local Youth Inclusion Program (YIP) and the Youth Inclusion Support Panels (YISP) to target work with young people most at risk from car offences and committing anti-social behaviour with car fires. |
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service intervention sessional workers will engage actively with young offenders. The course objectives are to educate using cognitive behavioural techniques focusing on car crime and its effects, in an effort to influence responsible citizenship thus reducing recidivism.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will also respond to requests to work with young people who may not have committed the offence of arson but who are, by the nature of their current behaviour, likely to become involved with such activity through negative peer association.
| National aims and objectives |
^ Top |
The national strategy for children and young people 2006 -2010 recommends that Fire Services examine local avenues in order to engage with children to underpin their fire safety knowledge.
This is to prevent children and young people being harmed or killed in accidental fires or causing fires through ignorance or carelessness.
This project is endorsed and underpinned in the five year "Community Safety Strategy plan 2006 – 2010".
The Vehicle Crime Course matches to Brigade Strategy and objectives:
| Strategic Aim |
Objective |
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| 1 |
1 |
Reduce the risk to life |
| 2 |
Reduce the incidences of fires and false alarms |
| 4 |
8 |
Promote a partnership approach in pursuance of continuous improvement, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness |
| 5 |
9 |
Ensure the provision of a service that meets the needs of the community |
| 10 |
Provide a service committed to a high level of equality and fairness |
| 11 |
Provide a fair, equitable and dignified place of work for all employees |
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 influences this work to address the incidences of deliberately ignited fires by children and young people within our county.
The arson intervention work supports the annual Youth Justice Plan for the Youth Offending Service of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, and outlines Fire Service involvement. This intervention work compliments the guidance launched by the Youth Justice Board (YJB), Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
| Intervention |
Vehicle Crime Course – Partnership with Youth Offending Service |
| Outputs |
1. | Referrals from Social Workers from the Youth Offending Service |
| 2. | Asset and Risk Matrix assessment |
| Reason |
1. | To fulfil the court orders as instructed by magistrates |
| 2. | Educate young people in driving safely and addressing car crime |
| 3. | Support the local annual Youth Justice Action plan |
| 4. | Supporting the "Staying Safe" objective of the Counties Children’s & Young Peoples Plan and Local Safeguarding Plan. |
| Outcomes |
1. | Efficiency gains |
| 2. | Reduction in injuries and accidental death |
| 3. | Reduction in the incidences of accidental, deliberate fires and road traffic collisions |
| 4. | No recidivism in car crime |
| Indicator / measure |
1. | Best Value Performance Indicators |
| 2. | The two year recidivism figures from Youth Offending Service |
| 3. | Court orders completed satisfactory |
| 4. | Recidivism data from the Prolific & Priority monitoring group |
Shropshire Fire and Rescue employ Fire Service personnel in a secondary occupation as part time Intervention Workers. They are employed under separate pay and conditions to their full time work. The personnel on the team are varied and range from wholetime firefighters, retained firefighters and non uniformed staff.
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Basic data on all young people referred to the Vehicle Crime Course will be kept by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, to permit the monitoring of the success of the programme. (Data Protection 1998) |
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Following the completion of the educational input level 1, the Scheme’s Administrator will record the young people’s attendance and non attendance |
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For qualitative measures a pre and post evaluation will be asked of young people, this is to ascertain the level of fire safety education gained during the course |
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For statistical purposes the Youth Offending Service will monitor and inform the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service with aggregate data on:
- The young person completing their order satisfactorily
- The young person re-offending which involves fire
- The two year recidivism figures for all cases referred to the Intervention Scheme
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Shared recidivism data from the Prolific & Priority group to ensure future monitoring |
Together we can reduce incidences of fire play and arson and make our county a safer place to live
Further information
Lynn Hosking
Youth Officer
01743 260 257
Chris Page
Scheme Administrator
01743 260 254
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